Recent Changes to Weekly Matches

January 13, 2017By Jody Woodruff

At our Annual meeting there were some changes to the way we play our weekly matches. Since the meeting the new Board of Directors have also implemented a couple of changes. Please free to share your comments to the BOD about any of the changes.

The general membership voted to make these changes:

  1. Team Captains will draw pills to determine the order by which the teams will be picked. For the last year we used the handicap method, and that seemed to work well, but since the majority want to see it go back to the old way, we have implemented that change.
  2. When the are no 3-somes, we will calculate the team score using the 3 low ball method. We have not been able to find a way to even things out when there is a 3-some yet so it would be more fair to play 2 low balls on the days when we have a 3-some. This is as close to fair as we can make it. Given that the picking order is random, hopefully who gets the 3-some will not fall on the same guy all the time.
  3. Every Thursday we will calculate the team score using the Stableford format. This means you will record points for each player on every hole. On days when the teams are not equal size, we will count the high point amount for the number of players to match the smallest team size. So, when we have a 3-some, only 3 scores will count, when we have a 5-some, only 4 scores will count.
  4. Members who are age 70 and older will now have the option to play from the RED tees.

The BOD had a meeting and will implement a few more items that were not voted on by the membership. (I think if we could have had the cooperation of everyone by being more respectful of who had the floor, we would have been able to present these items for discussion. Having said that, we as the BOD are executing our right to implement items that we feel will either enhance or protect the integrity of our competitions.

Items the BOD voted to implement:

  1. In order to be eligible to participate in our Fall Trip each year, a member must have played at least 12 times by the end of September. This is when we normally lock in the reservations for the trip. We feel this helps protect our funds from those that might pay the $35 to join late in the year just so they can make the trip. The trip has cost us about $150 per person for each of the last 2 years. I will be tracking how many times each person plays and add that column to the Money List so each player will have access to that information.
  2. In an effort to try and equalize the difference between players that play different tees within the same competition, we will start using the recommendation of the USGA to adjust handicaps based on what tee is played. This seems like a hard one for some to understand but here is how it works”
    1. Each player’s handicap index will be adjusted based on the tee played that day. Those that play the RED tees will use their official handicap. Those that play the WHITE tees will have one stroke added to their official handicap. Those that play the Blue tees will have 3 strokes added to their handicap. Those that play the GOLD tees will have 5 strokes to their handicap. Since we pull pills for picking order, the only effect of this change will be in determining who is a picker on that day. For example: Player “A” plays the BLUE tees and has an official handicap of 3, he will use an adjusted handicap of 6. If Player “B” has a handicap of 3 and he is playing the WHITE tees, he will use an adjusted handicap of 4. If Player “C” has a handicap of 3 and is playing the RED tees, he will use his official handicap. What this means is that someone playing the RED tees might have a RED tee handicap that is higher than the BLUE tee handicap of another player, but after the adjustment is applied, the RED tee player would be the picker. This will only occur every once in a while but it represents the recommendation of the USGA with one exception. The USGA rounds up the difference in the course rating between tees whereas we are implementing the adjustment as described above.
    2. Because handicaps are being adjusted, this will allow anyone who wishes to move back a set of tees to have their handicap adjusted to reflect the tees played that day. Ex. Player A has a 3 handicap from the White tees but elects to play the BLUE tees. His handicap would normally have been adjusted by one stroke but will now benefit from a 3 stroke adjustment. The new handicap will be 6 after the adjustment as described in part “A” above. In some cases doing this will mean that this player may not be a picker on that day.
    3. When we host handicap competitions, these changes will also apply. Currently the only competitions where we use handicap is the Fish Tournament.
    4. If anyone has trouble understanding this change you may refer to the article that is published by the USGA. Here is the link to that article: USGA Handicap Adjustment when playing different tees. Any member of the BOD can also explain if you need more clarification.